40 dogs and puppies rescued from small apartment in San Diego

SAN DIEGO (NBC, KYMA) - 40 dogs and puppies were rescued recently from a small apartment in San Diego.

San Diego Humane Society officials say conditions inside the apartment were horrific, and that it appeared the animals had been left alone since before Christmas.

All 40 were removed and are being cared, and the case could lead to criminal charges for those responsible.

Terrified and shaking, some underweight and dehydrated, and some have feces-impacted paws and claws that have never been cared for.

Still, all 40 mix breed small dogs and puppies survived their living conditions, and are now in safe hands of the Humane Society.

The sheer number of animals makes triage in the back lot an enormous task.

Technicians and vets vaccinated, dewormed and scanned them for microchips. After a thorough check-up, it was time to decompress.

The dogs were living in this 500-square foot ADU on 70th Street. The Humane Society suspects that the animals have never seen anything outside of these four walls.

The tenant was evicted on December 23, and the Humane Society believes they hadn't been tended to since then.

"Could this become a criminal investigation? It definitely could," said Chief Jac Huggins with the Humane Society Law Enforcement (HSLE).

Chief Huggins says his officers found the dogs in the worst conditions they've ever seen, not fit for humans or animals.

"The feces is in areas that almost reached up as high as the sitting part of the couch the smell is very very strong," Huggins shared.

Huggins found open bags of dog food on the floor and water dripping from the sink faucet.

"The dogs would actually climb on top of each other to get to that one small water source," Huggins added.

Huggins estimates the dogs had been living in these conditions for a year. Neighbors rent other dwellings on the same property.

"We only saw four or five dogs. Until last night, I didn't know there were that many dogs," Huggins spoke.

A man, who chose to be named Paul, called La Mesa police last night for a welfare check on the home because they heard dogs barking, but hadn't seen the tenant since her eviction.

"It is very sad to see that somebody could have done that especially abandon them...What was the problem? Was this a woman who was hoarding the dogs or breeding the dogs. I think it was more hoarding," Paul expressed.

The dogs' owner has not yet been located. For now, HSLE officers are investigating potential animal abuse and cruelty charges, and the focus though is on the rescued pets.

"I hope they find them a better home. Somebody that will take them in and love them," Paul remarked.